Leg-rest control for reclining chair



Sept. 12, 1961 F. F. SCHLIEPHACKE 2,999,720

LEG-REST CONTROL FOR RECLINING CHAIR Filed May 25, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I.

INV ENTOR. F/P/DT/OF F SCHL/EDHACKE /z/ BY L Sept. 12, 1961 F. F. SCHLIEPHACKE 2,999,720

LEG-REST CONTROL FOR RECLINING CHAIR 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 25, 1959 INVENTOR.

EQ/DZ/OF A SC/M/A-I HAICX Sept. 12, 1961 F. F. SCHLIEPHACKE 2,999,720

LEG-REST CONTROL FOR RECLINING CHAIR 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 25, 1959 Amy! Sept. 12, 1961 F. F. SCHLIEPHACKE 2,999,720

LEG-REST CONTROL FOR RECLINING CHAIR Filed May 25, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG. 7.

IN V EN TOR. FQ/DTJOF F.- $61 M IEPHA Ckf' 2 999 720 rnoinnsr 'CONTROi, For: nncrnsnvo CHAIR Frrdt of F. Schliephacke, Beriin-Schmargendorf, Germany, assignor to Anton Lorenz, Ocean Ridge, Boynton Beach, Fla.

Filed May 25, 1959, Ser. No. 815,523 8 Claims. (Cl. 297-89) quirements for such type of chair presently require open framework sides mounted on relatively long legs of narrow diameter with an open space between the bottom of the seat and the floor surface. Because of such open framework, it is necessary for esthetic reasons to conceal the leg-rest in its retracted position so that the chair will have the appearance of a normal well styled chair in its upright sitting position, and the leg-rest therefore must be so mounted that in its retracted position it is closely spaced from the bottom surface of the seat and is main tained substantially parallel thereto. The leg-rest linkage must also be so arranged and must be of such construction that in the upright sitting position of the chair it is collapsed or folded into an extremely compact form with the links thereof closely spaced from each other and hidden by the chair framework.

A problem encountered in the construction of the chair of the aforementioned type is concerned with moving the leg-rest from its retracted position beneath the seat to an extended position forwardly of the seat. In this move ment, the leg-rest must be swungthrough an angle of approximately 180", from an inverted beneath the seat to an upright horizontal position forwardly of the seat. This requires a relatively long path of travel of the leg-rest in response to a short path of travel of the body supporting unit of the chair. The

horizontal position linkage must therefore be so constructed as to provide an accelerated movement of the leg-rest in response to a slight movement of the body-supporting unit.

Another problem inherent in the construction of reclining chairs of the aforementioned type is occasioned by the necessity of spacing the extended leg-rest well forwardly of the leading edge of the seat and in the proper position to support the legs of the occupant. For this purpose, the links of the leg-rest linkage must be of rather long dimension, and yet the leg-rest linkage must be so constructed that these long links are folded into a sufficiently compact arrangement as to be hidden from view by the chair open framework in the upright position of the body-supporting unit. It is also apparent that links of large size raise the problem of controlling the linkage movement in such a manner that the links and the leg-rest do not strike the floor when the leg-rest is moved from its underslung position to its extended position.

It is an object ofthepresent invention to provide a legrest linkage for reclining chairs of the type described which overcomes the aforementioned problems in an effective and economical manner.

Another object of the invention is the provision of the leg-rest linkage of the character described in which a novel link arrangement is employed for providing a long path of movement of the leg-rest in response to a relatively short path of movement of the body-supporting means.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a Patented Sept. 12, 1961 leg-rest linkage of the character described in which the links are so arranged as tomove the leg-rest to an ex-, tended position in which it is spaced well forwardly from the front end of the seat, and in which such links are also arranged to be folded up into a very compact form in the upright sitting position of the body supporting unit when the leg-rest is in its retracted underslung position.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a leg-rest linkage of the character described which is particularly adapted for use in chairs having modern styling features including an open frame, high legs, and the like.

Additional objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent during the course of the following specification when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, with parts broken away and shown in section, of an improved reclining chair embodying the leg-rest linkage of the present invention, the chair being shown in its upright or sitting position;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 1, showing the chair in a rearwardly tilted position with the leg-rest linkage extended and the leg-rest in its elevated leg-supporting position;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view, with parts broken away and shown in section, of a reclining chair having a modified type of construction including a modified leg-rest linkage which is also made in accordance with the present invention, the chair in this view being shown in its upright or sitting position; I

FIG. 4 is a side elevational View of the forward portion of the chair of FIG. 3 showing the chair in its rearwardlytilted position and the leg-rest linkage in its fully-extended leg-supporting position;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view, with parts broken away and shown in section, of a reclining chair having a modified type of control means for the body-supporting unit, and a modified type of leg-rest linkage made in accordance with the invention, the chair being shown'in its upright sitting position;

FIG. 6 is a side elevation of the forward portion of the .chair shown in FIG. 5, showing the body-supporting unit in its rearwardly-tilted position and the leg-rest linkage-in its extended leg-supporting position;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of a reclining chair incorporating still another type of leg-rest linkage made in accordance with the present invention, the chair being shown in its upright sitting position; and,

FIG. 8 is a partial side elevational view of the chair shown in FIG. 7, but showing the chair in its rearwardlytilted position with the leg-rest in its fully extended legsupponting position. 7

Referring now specifically to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates the type of chair in which the leg-rest linkage of the present invention is particularly adapted and intended to be incorporated. The chair has a fixed and immovable support frame or base 10 which includeslegs 1-2. A "body supporting unit 14, comprising a seat 16 and a back-rest 18 formed rigidly with each other, is mounted for rearward tilting movement upon the support frame 10. p

The support frame 10 is formed by open side frames 20 which include side rails 22 connected by cross bars or braces such as the members 24, 26 and 23. The chair also includes a leg-rest 30 which is carried by a leg-rest actuating linkage designated generally by the reference numeral 32, the latter being mounted on the support frame it) and connected to the seat 16 in a manner which will be presently described. H V

The chair legs 12 are made in accordance with modern styling and are relativelyhigh and narrow so as-xto present a large unemcurnbered space beneath the seat 16. Such styling requires in a chair of this type that 'the legthe side rails 22. rest linkage 32, in this retracted position of the leg-rest,

rest be retracted to an underslung position, as indicated in FIG. 1, in which it is normally spaced a short distance beneath the lower surface of the seat and is parallel thereto, so as to he substantially hidden from view by 'It will also be observed that the legis collapsed to a very compact condition in which the links constituting said linkage are closely folded together and are located close beneath the seat 16, where they are hidden from view by the side rails 22.

The body-supporting unit 14 is mounted for rearward tilting movement upon the support frame by a pair of guide links 34 and 36. The top ends of these guide links .34 and 36 are respectively connected at spaced points to the seat 16 by pivots 38 and 48 while their lower ends are mounted at spaced points on the cross brace 26 of frame 19 by respective pivots 42 and 44. The front guide link 36 is inclined forwardly and upwardly from its pivotal mount 44 on the support 10 to its pivotal connection 40 with the seat 16, in the sitting position of the body-supporting unit shown in FIG. 1. In this forwardly inclined position, the link 36 rests upon the cross bar 24, the latter serving as a stop memher to support the front portion of the seat and to prevent the same from collapsing when the chair is occupied in such a sitting position. The rear guide link 34 is shorter than the front guide link 36 and, in the sitting position of FIG. 1, extends substantially vertically upward.

When the body-supporting unit 14 is moved from the upright sitting position of FIG. 1 to the rearwardly-tilted position of FIG. 2, the upper end of the front guide link 36 is moved in an arc rearwardly and upwardly, thereby carrying the body-supporting unit 14 in a rearward direction, and at the same time raising the forward end of the seat to provide the tilted attitude shown in FIG. 2.

At the same time, the rear guide link 34 moves in a rearward and downward arc, thereby moving the rear portion of the seat in a rearward direction and also lowering the same. Thus the body supporting unit 14 is moved in a rearward direction relative to the support frame 10, and at the same time is rearwardly tilted to the attitude shown in FIG. 2. In the tilted position of FIG. 2, the rear surface of the back-rest 18 engages the rearmost crossbar 28, the latter serving as stop means to limit further rearward tilting movement of said bodysupporting unit.

Referring now specifically to the leg-rest linkage 32, the leg-rest 30 is supported by a first pair of links 58, 52 and a second pair of links 54, 56. The first pair of links 50 and 52 are interconnected to end-to-end relationship by a pivot 58, while the second pair of links 54 and 56 are likewise connected end-to-end by a pivot 60. The free end of the link 52 is connected to the structure of the leg-rest 30 by a pivot 62. The free end of the link 56 of the second pair of links is also connected to the leg-rest structure by a pivot 64 at a point spaced from the pivotal connection 62 of the link 52 to said legrest 30.

The free end of the link 50 of the first pair of links is pivotally mounted at 66 to a bracket 68 which is in turn rigidly mounted on the side rail 22 of the support frame 10. The free end of the link 54 is pivotally mounted at 70 on the seat 16 at a point near the for- Ward end thereof. The links 52 and 54 cross each other and are pivotally connected at their crossing over point by pivot 72.

The movement of the leg-rest linkage is effected by and controlled by an actuating link 74- which is mounted at one end by pivot 78 on a bracket 76 formed as a fixed I part of the support frame 10. The free end of the actuating link 74 is connected by pivot 80 to an intermediate point on the link 54between the pivots 70 and 72. The pivotal mount 78 of the actuating link -74 is located above and to the rear of the pivotal connection 70 of the link 54 to the seat 16, and the actuating link 74 extends downwardly and forwardly from its pivotal mount 78 to its point of connection 80 with said link 54.

When the body-supporting unit 14 is moved from its sitting position of FIG. 1 to the rearWardly-tilted position of FIG. 2, the actuating link 74 operates todrive the leg-rest linkage in such a manner as to bring the legrest 30 from its retracted position to its extended position. This is accomplished by the arrangement of the actuating link 74 with the link 54 and the seat 16 to form a fourbar linkage producing a drag-link action in which the seat 16 serves as a movable link in the nature of a driving crank, the actuating link 74- servs as a driven crank, and the link 54 serves as a connecting rod which is rotated through an angle of nearly 180. The stationary link of the four-bar linkage is defined by that portion of the support frame 10 between the fixed pivot 78 and the pivotal mount of the seat on the support frame. In this case, the front and rear guide links 36 and 34 provide an instantaneous axis or center for the pivoting movement of the seat, which instantaneous center is located below the chair and is located at the intersection of the longitudinal axes of the links 34 and 36. The stationary link of the four-bar linkage is therefore represented as that portion of the support frame between the fixed pivot 78 and the aforementioned instantaneous center of rotation of the body-supporting unit. The seat 16, as the driving crank, has a pivotal mount on the support frame 10, and the actuating link 74 also has a pivotal mount 78 on the support frame. The connecting rod 54, however, is not connected to the support frame, so that it is free to rotate through a large arcuate path.

The seat 16 and actuating link 74 do not rotate through a full 360' are as do the cranks of the usual drag-link mechanism, but the linkage is so arranged as to utilize that portion of the drag link movement in which the driven crank or actuating link 74 moves at a faster rate than the driving crank or seat 16, and the connecting rod or link 54 moves at a still faster rate. 1

As the link 54 is pivoted forwardly about: the pivot 70, its upper end is also drawn rearwardly with tthe seat 16, causing said link 54 to turn about the pivot 80 on the actuating link 74. The lower portion of the link 54 is thus moved rapidly through a long path of travel from its position of FIG. 1 to the position of FIG. 2, carrying the leg-rest link 56 forwardly and upwardly with it in such a manner as to bring the leg-rest 30 to its extended position. 'At the same time, the links 50 and 52 are also brought forwardly because of their pivotal connection at 72 with the second pair of links'54, 56, to maintain the leg-rest 30 in the proper attitude, that is to say in a substantially horizontal position shown in FIG. 2. In arriving at this position of FIG. 2, the actuating link 74 pivots upwardly from its depending position of FIG. 1 to the upwardly and forwardly inclined position of FIG. 2 in which it supports the link 54, the latter being in substantially horizontal position. It will be noted that in able distance forwardly of the front end of the seat 16,

which is desirable in a chair of this type.

At its forward end, the link 52 is provided with a stop element 82 which extends in the direction of the link 56. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, when the leg-rest linkage is in its retracted and extended positions, the stop element 82 engages the link 56 and limits movement of the legrest linkage past said extended and retracted positions.

Referring now specifically to FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawings, there is shown a modified type of reclining chair which incorporates the improved leg-rest linkage of the present invention. In these views reference numerals similar to those shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are employed for like parts, except that these numerals are in the series; I W

The chair shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 again-includes a support frame mounted on legs 112, the support frame comprising side frames 120 having side-rails122 connected by cross bars or braces 124, 126 and 128.

Mounted on the support frame 110 is a body-supporting structure 114 comprising a rigid seat 116 and backrest 118. The body supporting structure 114 is again mounted for rearward movement on the support frame 110, except in this instance, instead of being mounted on a pair of links for rearward shifting movement as well as rearward tilting movement, the body-supporting structure I 114 is mounted on a single pivot for a simple pivoting rearward tilting movement. To this effect, the rear portion of the seat 116 carries a depending bracket 184 which is connected by a pivot 186 to a bracket 188 rigidly connected to the side rail 122 of the support frame 110. I

The leg-rest 138 is supported and guided by a leg-rest linkage 132 which is substantially identical to the leg-rest linkage shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, except that the dimensions of the links and the positions of their mounting are correspondingly altered to accommodate the simple pivoting movements of the body supporting unit 114 afforded by the single pivot 186. Specifically the linkage 132 comprises a first pair of links 150 and 152 interconnected by pivot 158. The link 150 is pivotally connected to an upstanding bracket 168 which is formed as a rigid part of the support frame 110, while the link 152 is pivotally connected at 162 to the leg-rest 130. A second pair of links 154 and 156 are interconnected by pivot 160, with the link 154 pivotally mounted at 170 on the forward portion of the seat 116 and with the link 156 pivoted at 164 to a point on the leg-rest 130 which is spaced from the pivot 162. The links 152 and 154 cross each other and are connected at the crossing over point by pivot 172 The movement of the leg-rest linkage is controlled and accelerated by actuating link 174 which is pivotally mounted at 178 on a bracket 176 rigidly connected to the side frame 120, and with its other end pivotally connected at 180 to a point on the link 154 spaced from, but relatively close to, the pivotal mount 170 thereof.

The seat 116 carries a stop member 190, which, in the sitting position of the body supporting unit 114, engages and rests upon the top of the fixed bracket 168, as shown in FIG. 3, to support the forward portion of the seat 116 and prevent the same from collapsing when the chair is occupied. a

In the sitting position of the chair shown in FIG. 3, the leg-rest linkage 132 is closely folded together and the leg-rest 130 is held in its retracted underslung position in which it is substantially parallel to and spaced closely beneath the forward portion of the seat 116. When the occupant of the chair leans rearwardly to bring the chair to its tilted position of FIG. 4, the body supporting unit 114 tilts about the fixed pivot 186 thereby actuating the leg-rest linkage in the manner previously described in connection with the structure in FIGS. 1 and 2. As the forward end of the seat moves upwardly and rearwardly, the pivot 170 moves in an are about the fixed pivot 186 and the actuating link 174 pushes against the link 154 to cause the same to pivot forwardly relative to the'seat 116. As the pivot 170 moves above and past the pivot 180, the seat 116 acts as a driving crank to turn the link 154 about the pivot 180, so that its end carrying the link 156 is provided with an accelerated and wide movement to raise the leg-rest to its extended position of FIG. 4, in which it is spaced well forwardly of the seat 116. In the extended position of FIG. 4, the rear portion of the body supporting unit 114 engages the cross-bar 126 to limit the tilting movement thereof.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate still another modified type of chair made in accordance with the invention, wherein the mounting arrangements for the leg-rest linkage as well as the body-supporting unit are somewhat different in structure from those previously shown. Again similar reference numerals are used for like parts, except that these numerals form a 200 series.

The' body-supporting unit 214 is mounted on the support frame 210 by the link 234 whichismounted by pivot 242 on the'support frame and is connected to the rear portion of the body-supporting unit 214 by pivot .238.

The leg-rest 230 is carried by leg-rest linkage 232 which includes a first pair of links 250 and 252 interconnected by pivot 258, and a second pair of links .254 and 256 interconnected by pivot 260. The links 252 and 256 are connected at spaced points on the leg-rest 230 by respective pivots 262 and 264. The links 252 and 254 cross each other and are interconnected at their crossing-over point by pivot 272. The link 254 is connected by pivot 270 to the forward end portion of the seat 216. The link 250 is connected by pivot 296 to the end of a link 298, the other end of which is pivotally mounted at 251 on a bracket 253 which is'in turn rigidly mounted on the support frame 210. A roller 2.92 is also journal-led on the pivot 296 at the juncture of links 250 and 298. This roller rides in an inverted U-shaped groove 294 in the lower portion of the seat 216.

Movement of the leg-rest linkage 232 is again controlled by an actuating link 2'74 which is mounted at one end by pivot 278 on a bracket 276 formed as a rigid part of the support frame 210. The other end of actuating link 274 is connected by pivot 289 to an intermediate portion of the link 254 between the pivots 274) and 272.

In the sitting position of the chair, shown in FIG. 5, the roller 292 is located at the apex of the groove 294 and the forward end of the seat 216 is thereby prevented from collapsing. Additional support may be provided in the nature of an extension piece 255 rigid with the seat 216, which abuts the top of the bracket 253 in the upright position of the body-supporting unit 214.

When the occupant of the chair applies his weight rear- Wardly on the back-rest 218, the guide link 234 pivots rearwardly on its fixed pivot 242 to move the body-supporting unit 214 rearwardly. As the front portion of the seat is moved rearwardly, the roller 292-moves forwardly in'the groove 294, the latter acting as a cam surface to raisethe forward portion of the seat 216 and cause the unit 214 to turn rearwardly about pivot 238. During this movement, the pivot 270 is moved toward the fixed pivot 278, causing the actuating link 274 to turn upwardly and move the link pair 254, 256 toward its extended position of FIG. 6. The link pair .254, 256 in turn causes an unfolding of the link pair 250, 252, which raises the link 298, the latter serving as a front guide link to raise the lowered portion of the seat in this initial movement.

It will be observed that in this instance the link pair 250, 252 is connected to the seat 216 rather than mounted on the support frame as in the structures of the previous embodiments. The roller 292 and groove 294 provide a flexible and movable connection of link 250 with the seat, and the link 298 serves to prevent the link 250 and roller 292 from collapsing downwardly. As the body-supporting unit 214 moves toward its tilted position, the link 252 is drawn upwardly and forwardly with the link 254, causing the angle between the links 259' and 298 to increase, and causing the roller 292 to move downwardly and forwardly in the groove 294. The link 2.98 pivots upwardly until, in the tilted'position of FIG. 6, it engages and is retained by a stop member 257 formed integrally with the bracket 253. g I

In the rearwardly-tilted position of FIG. '6, the rear portion of the body-supporting unit 214 is restrained from further rearward movement by engagement with the rear cross bar 228. The frontend portion of the seat 216 is maintained in its raised position by the actuating link 274 and link 254, the former being mounted on the fixed pivot 278, and the latter being .mounted on seat pivot 270 which, at this point, is also fixed and immovable.

It will be appreciated, that instead of the roller 292 and groove 294, a pin and slot coupling maybe employed to mount the'link 250 flexibly upon the'seat 216.

A modified type-of linkage is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8'.

The body-supporting unit 314, formed of the rigid seat 316 and back-rest 318, is mounted on the support frame 310 by the rear guide link 334 and front guide link 336. The rear guide link 334 is again mounted by pivot 342 on a fixed portion of the frame 310 and is connected at its upper end by pivot 338 to the rear portion of the body-supporting unit 314. In this instance, the front guide link 336 is located Well forwardly of the chair, and anintermediate point thereon is mounted by pivot 366 on the bracket 368 which is rigid with the support frame 310. The upper end of the front guide link 336 is connected by pivot 34-0 to a point high on the seat 316 and well forwardly thereof. The front guide link 336 also has an extension portion 336a which projects beyond the pivot 386 and is connected by pivot 36-1 to the rear link 350 of the first pair of links 350, 352.

The first pair of links 350, 352 of the leg-rest linkage 332 are interconnected in end-to-end relationship by pivot 358, while the second pair of links 354 and 356 are connected by pivot 360. The links 352 and 356 are connected at spaced points on the leg-rest 330 by respective pivots 362 and 364. The linkage is coordinated by a pivotal connection 37 2 between the link pairs at the crossingover point between link 352 and link 354. Link 354 is mounted by pivot 370 at the front end of the seat 316.

The linkage movement is again controlled by an actuating link 374 which is mounted at one end by pivot 378 on a bracket 376 secured rigidly to the support frame 310, while its other end is connected by pivot 380 to an intermediate portion of the link 354. The actuating link 374, the seat 316, and the link 354 form a four-bar linkage Which produces a drag-link action, with the link 354 serving as the connecting rod. The fixed link of the four-bar linkage is defined by the portion of the support frame 310 between the fixed pivot 37% and the instantaneous center of rotation of the body-supporting unit 314 provided by the front and rear guide links 336 and 334. The operation of this mechanism in bringing the leg-rest 330 from its under-slung retracted position of .FIG. 7 to its extended position of FIG. 8, has previously been described in detail.

It will be observed that in this modification of the linkage, the link 350 instead of being mounted on the support frame or on the seat, is now mounted on a movable part of the chair structure, namely the extension 336a of the front guide link 336. When the seat is in its sitting position of FIG. 7, the front guide link is inclined forwardly and upwardly from its pivotal'mount 366 and its extension 336a is directed rearwardly. The linkage 332 is in its collapsed condition and the leg-rest 330 is held close to and substantially parallel to the bottom surface of the seat 316. A stop element 355 rigid withthe seat engages the upper end of the bracket 368 to support the front of said seat 316.

When the body-supporting unit 314 is brought to its rearwardly-tilted position, the actuating link 374 pivots upwardly to bring the second pair of links 354 and 356 to their extended position. At the same time, the front guide link 336 pivots upwardly about pivot 366 to raise the forward end of the seat, and its extension 336a pivots forwardly and upwardly, thrusting link 350 forwardly and aiding in the extension of the leg-rest 330. Since the extension 336a is moved forwardly in the same direction in which the leg-rest linkage 332 is moving, it provides a greater and more rapid extensionof the leg-rest linkage.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described herein by way of illustrative example, it will be obvious that numerous additions, changes and omissions may be made in such embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. In a reclining chair having a support frame, a'bodysupporting unit including a seat and back-rest mounted on the support frame for tilting movement to aw feclining position, .and'a leg-rest; leg-rest control means for movtiongbeneath the seat to an extended position in which it isspaced forwardly of the front of the seat, said leg-rest control means comprising a first pair of links formed by a first and second link pivotally connected end-to-end, a second link pairrformed by a third and fourth link pivotally connected end-to-end and interconnected with the first pair of links for coordinated movement, the second and fourth links being pivotally connected to spaced points. on the leg-rest, the third link being pivotally connected to the forward end portion of the seat and extending rearwardly ,in the sitting position of the bodysupporting-unit, the first linkbeing pivotally mounted on a portion of the chair structure, and an actuating link pivotally mounted on the support frame at a point rearwardly of and above the position of the pivotal mount of the first link on the seat in the sitting position of the body-supporting unit, said actuating link being pivotally connected to the third linkat an intermediate point thereon proximate to the pivotal connection of the latter to the seat, the upper end of the third link being moved rearwardly with the seat when the body-supporting unit is brought to its reclining position, and the actuating link and third link cooperating with the seat to provide a drag link action for bringing the leg-rest to its extended position, with the seat serving as a driving crank, the actuating link serving as a driver crank, and the third link serving as a connecting rod.

2. A reclining chair having a support frame, a bodysupporting unit including a seat and back-rest mounted on the support frame for rearward movement from an upright sitting position to a tilted position, a leg-rest, and leg-rest control means for moving the leg-rest from a retracted underslnng inverted position beneath the seat to an extended position in which it is spaced forwardly of the front of the seat, said leg-rest control means comprising a first pair of links formed by a first and second link pivotally connected end-to-end, a second-link pair formed by a third and fourth link pivotally connected end-to-end and interconnected with the first pair of links for coordinated movement, the second and fourth links being pivotally connected to spaced points on the leg-rest, the third link being pivotally mounted on the forward end portion of the seat, the first link being pivotally mounted on a portion of the chair structure, and an actuating link pivotally mounted on the support frame at a point rearwardly of and above the position of the pivotal mount of the first link on the seat in the sitting position of the body-supporting unit, said actuating link being pivotally connected to the third link at a point proximate to the pivotal connection of the latter to the seat, the third link extending rearwardly from its pivotal mount on the seat in the upright sitting position of the body-supporting unit and the actuating link extending forwardly and downwardly from its pivotal mount to its pivotal connection with the third link, the upper end of the third link being carried upwardly and rearwardly by the seat when the body-supporting unit is brought to its tilted position, the actuating ilink turning forwardly and upwardly about its pivotal mount and the third link turning about its pivotal connection with the actuating link as a fulcrum through an arc of substantially to a forwardlyextending position in which the leg-rest is supported in its extended position.

3. A reclining chair according to claim 2 in which the first link is pivotally mounted on the support frame.

4. A reclining chair according to claim 2 in which the first link is movably mounted on the seat.

5. A reclining chair according to claim 4 in which a roller is journalled on the free end of said first link, the seat having a cam surface at its lower end, and the roller riding in the cam surface;

6. A reclining chair according to claim 2 in which a single pivot mounts the rear end position of the bodysupporting unit on said support frame.

7. A reclining chair according to claim 2 in which a front and rear guide link mount the body supporting unit on the support, said guide links being pivotally connected at spaced points on the seat and being pivotally mounted at spaced points on the support frame.

8. A reclining chair according to claim 7 in which the front guide link has an extension portion projecting beyond the pivotal mount thereof on said support frame, the first link being connected to said extension portion and being thrust forwardly thereby when the body-supporting unit is moved rearwardly to its tilted position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 607,293 Streit July 12, 1898 2,672,918 Luckhardt Mar. 23, 1954 2,880,785 Schliephacke i Apr. 7, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 737,396 Great Britain Sept. 28, 1955 

